Do either of these settings look like roads? The top is Surprise Canyon near Death Valley National Park, the bottom Salt Creek Wash in Canyonlands National Park. Top photo via The Wilderness Society, bottom photo by Ted Zukowski, Earthjustice.

Long a bone of contention between state, local and federal authorities when it comes to public lands access is a nearly 150-year-old law initially passed to help advance westward expansion. Now Interior Secretary Ken Salazar hopes a pilot program in Utah can generate a solution to R.S. 2477 controversies.

R.S. 2477 was passed by Congress in 1866 to allow the construction of roads across federal lands that were not already reserved for public use. In 1976 Congress repealed the law, but not before providing that any valid R.S. 2477 route existing at the time of the repeal could continue in use. Since then, there have been many debates and many lawsuits over what constituted a valid R.S. 2477 route. These days, some states, counties, and off-road groups have claimed that washes, two-tracks, even cow paths and hiking trails are "highways" that they are entitled to open to motorized travel, according to those who oppose the granting of these rights.

How such cases are settled goes a long way to how public lands -- including national parks -- can be accessed via off-road vehicle. For example, in Bryce Canyon National Park the Kane County (Utah) Commission has claimed that portions of the park's Under-the-Rim backcountry trail and the Riggs Spring hiking trail are open to dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles courtesy of the statute. And in Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah, officials have stated that five miles of the East Rim foot and horse trail is a "constructed highway" that should be open to motorized use.

Against this backdrop, Interior officials have agreed to work with the State of Utah, county officials, and other stakeholders in a pilot negotiation project to resolve R.S. 2477 claims.

“R.S. 2477 claims have long been a source of contention in the West, but with the right approach, openness on all sides, and Governor Herbert’s leadership, we have a good chance in Utah to establish a model for consensus-building and problem solving,” Interior Secretary Salazar said in a prepared statement. “If we can set the right parameters for the talks, I believe that a pilot project with Iron County, Utah, would be a good first step that can demonstrate how consensus is attainable on specific claims—to the benefit of all."

When he made that statement last week, the secretary also announced that he has issued a memo to Interior agencies clarifying that a road claims policy issued in 2006 by the Bush administration is not binding on the federal government and created unnecessary confusion in the government’s old road claims process. In his memo, Secretary Salazar said the department should be able to make all appropriate arguments under applicable law to defend the United States’ interests in R.S. 2477 claims litigation.

The department's decision to try to negotiate some R.S. 2477 claims under a pilot program was welcomed by conservation groups.

"We have long sought partners among the state and counties who would work with us to find a solution to the R.S. 2477 problem, and support a dialog on this important issue. A process which recognizes legitimate roads while protecting scenic and wild country at the same time is a possible step in the right direction," said Heidi McIntosh, associate director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. "We look forward to working with the County to reach a solution like that where everyone wins."

At the National Parks Conservation Association, Legislative Director Kristen Brengel said her group looks "forward to participating in an open, cooperative public process that seeks to settle conflicts over road claims. Zion National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and Cedar Breaks National Monument are among the national park units where R.S. 2477 claims have been asserted in the past. We welcome an opportunity to work with federal, state and local officials to bring some closure to this issue.”

And at The Wilderness Society, policy advisor Anne Merwin said she hoped the program could uncover "common ground with our local and federal partners on this long-controversial issue. Working together to provide for legitimate transportation needs while also helping ensure the protection of some of the state’s wildest and most beautiful places is a value we all share.”

I've hiked the East Rim Trail in Zion and that one stretch is blatantly an old road. As a hiker, I'm not sure if it should go back to being that though. As an issue of access and bringing people into more areas of the park, I'm even less sure.

I wish someone would explain to me the value of Secretary Salazar parachuting in to 'negotiate' RS 2477 claims.

Even more, what benefit these conservation groups see in these discussions.

RS 2477 claims for supposed, unused 'historic' highways are ridiculous. RS 2477 has been repealed for a long time. Originally it made sense: the government was privatizing huge swaths of land in the West, and there was a concern that private landowners would block the way west.

Now, these claims to supposed 'highways" are nothing more than a device to compromise protection and management of public land. Nothing can compromise the public value of a wilderness area faster than a few motorized vehicles in sensitive areas. Presumably, Secretary Salazar has the law on his side.

It would seem all that would come of Mr. Salazar's heroics is something less than full protection. It looks like he is trying to find a way to yield protection when he has the cards.

A pattern to Mr. Salazar seems to be forming. He doesn't seem to want to manage. He likes high profile confrontations that he can parachute into an emerge the hero.

His are the skills of a politician or an attorney. Not a manager.

Consider the MMS and the oil spill. Rather than looking at the management of oil leases and safety systems, he came up with ethics codes. He then dropped MMS and parachuted into the wind-power controversy off Cape Cod and Nantucket. That is what he was doing when the oil blew at BPs oil lease, a lease presumably under his management.

The President told him it was Salazar's job to put people in jobs who could do them. Whoa. Was Mr. Salazar listening?

But, as soon as the oil leak gets plugged, once again Salazar is off like a kid doing what he loves to do. A boy with a parachute, hoping he is the one indispensible guy with a headline.

Is this a cult of personality? Would someone explain why this latest intervention makes sense?

Why not instead come up with a program to implement the recommendations of the Second Century Commission for the National Parks? Why is he ignoring the opportunity of the Centennial of the National Park Service? He seems only to want visibility for his role in the Department of the Interior, and nothing for enhancing the resources of the agencies under his care.

And now, more personal diplomacy, he is going to 'fix' RS 2477. All I see is a downside. Is he securing his political reputation among people who hate parks? How about, instead, his job is to protect the land from unrestricted motorized access of wilderness areas and national parks?

I wish one of these environmental groups would explain what the benefit of this intervention could possibly be.